Maria Gajraj is a Montréal-based organist and Doctoral Candidate at McGill University. Her research focuses on 20th-century Caribbean organ repertoire. She is the co-founder of Sapphonix Collective (https://sapphonixcollective.com/), which promotes women, queer, and racialized classical musicians, and has been featured on CBC radio. Maria is also the executive director of medieval ensemble COMTESSA (https://comtessa.ca/), in which she plays organetto. 

 

Maria has performed internationally, at venues like Salle Bourgie, Maison Symphonique, and the Orgelpark (Amsterdam) and in series such as Cal Performances (USA) and Bergen Orgelsommer (Norway). A recipient of the Godfrey Hewitt Scholarship (2022) and other awards, her doctoral research is funded by the FRQ (Fonds de Recherche du Quebec). 

 

In her concert programs, Maria is passionate about highlighting women and composers of colour. By creating engaging concert programs, and by featuring the organ in innovative and multidisciplinary contexts, Maria strives to break stereotypes, and to make the organ more accessible to everyone. 

Maria’s "spirited, clean, and colourful performance lent real meaningful significance to this music"

                                                             - Pipelines